With the news of the attack, Conrad and Njal took off, quickly outpacing us as Frida dragged me along. We seemed to be heading towards the forest road entrance instead of the river gate. Or the road from Bagpath that was mentioned.
Running in a dress was not too difficult. Why did it seem I had less issues with it than my companions? I had no clue. Not the first, nor the last odd occurrence that seemed to be part of my life over the previous two days.
We didn’t even reach the gate, though, but I could see that the guards were in the middle of closing it. Villagers, some of whom we had seen working the fields earlier, hurriedly moved past us while others surrounded four large wagons.
Three were covered in thick tarps tied down with thick ropes, and from underneath, I could see boxes and barrels. The third looked a little like a covered wagon from one of those old American Wild West movies, but with the sides open.
Although I might not know anything about horse care, the ones pulling the wagons were totally exhausted. We would soon learn that they pushed through the night after whatever attacked them. And those who traveled with the wagons didn’t appear any better.
Conrad and Njal stood in front of a large man on foot, leading another exhausted-looking horse. Wearing a mail hauberk with a metal helm and sword at the waist, I assume he was one of the guards or maybe the uncle. But whatever the armored man told Njal, it caused him to sprint towards the last wagon.
“Redcaps, I can’t believe it.”
I heard one of the villagers say as they questioned one of the drivers. Conrad and the armored man had already followed Njal as we approached.
“What are Redcaps?” I asked Frida as she continued to pull me along.
She looked surprised at the question, but it was Revna who replied. “From what I’ve been told, they are bear-like creatures, not having seen one myself. Have you never really heard of them?”
“The name’s familiar, but they don’t sound like the creatures I know.”
Redcaps, in my world, were terrible goblin-like creatures that hunted ruins and bathed their hats in the blood of their victims. Bears, not so much.
From the story going around, the group had been ambushed the afternoon before. Arrows peppered the wagons before a dozen creatures charged out of the woods. Thankfully, the guards quickly rallied and killed most of the attackers.
As we reached the third wagon, the warmth that started in my chest when I first stepped into this world slowly spread across my whole being. Almost maternal, it felt like a warm hug from my mother, the burst that followed nearly caused me to stumble.
Healer’s Sense Health: 198 / 204 Status: Exhausted
Once my head cleared, I noticed a small box above the armored man talking to a few other guards. Near him, another box pop-up appeared above the driver of the third wagon.
Healer’s Sense Health: 88 / 88 Status: Exhausted
It was as if I could see the world through a new lens. Looking about, I noticed that more of the guards and drivers were wounded, some more than others. At least for my sanity, unless one was injured or had a status effect, the box didn’t appear.
Why was I suddenly seeing this obvious game interface? I had almost come to believe this was real, even with the other pop-up boxes but for this. But the blood was all too real. The pain I could see in those caught in the attack didn’t seem like something out of a game. It was too much; I wanted to retreat and hide in a dark, quiet place.
Njal’s sorrowful cry gave me no chance to step away and understand as my feet suddenly pulled me around to the back of the wagon. Filled with personal items and other things to help ease the rigors of travel, all of it was shoved towards the front. At the back sat a well-dressed man giving Njal a one-armed hug because his left arm was in a sling, tied tight to his body.
Healer’s Sense Health: 82 / 93 Status: Exhausted, Fractured Bone
Pain, worry, exhaustion, and relief flickered across his face as he whispered to his nephew, then leaned over to speak to an older woman dressed green in robes.
“I don’t know, Master Gomes, the potion seemed to have closed the wounds,” she said as she looked over another woman lying on the bottom of the wagon. “The arrow must have done more damage.”
“Is that why she’s getting worse?” He asked, and I could hear the panic rising in his voice.
“Because she is poisoned,” I heard myself say, grabbing the back of the wagon and pulling myself inside to get a better look.
Healer’s Sense Health: 19 / 63 Status: Unconscious, Poisoned, Internal Bleeding
“I had thought as much,” someone said behind me. “Redcaps often use poison, but we gave Eria an antidote potion as well.”
I looked over and found the armored man leaning over behind me.
Nodding, I said, “Might not have been strong enough.” I then turned to the green-robed woman and asked, “May I?”
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“Of course, Master Healer,” she said, moving off to the side.
Master Healer? I had to laugh; I was flying by the seat of my pants. However, I had done something similar hundreds of times in the past six months as I slipped into that familiar role of the party healer.
“Clear some space, give Mistress Eira some privacy,” someone commanded. “And let the healer do her work.”
Eira was covered in a couple of thick woolen blankets with her bloody bodice tossed off to the side, which must have been removed to reach her wounds. But Njal's aunt looked in the worst way. Pale skin to the point of almost grey, her lips were tainted blue, with her breath came in weak gasps. Sadly, according to my Healing Sense, she also might not see tomorrow’s sunrise.
But what to do next?
I knew some limited first aid and went through a CPR class for work, but I knew nothing about how to treat a serious wound, much less poison. I also had no desire to pull away the blanket from the poor woman in the middle of the street to take a look. Besides, the wounds, according to the others, had already closed.
Reaching for her hand, I almost jumped back in surprise.
Eira Health: 18/63 Mana: 32/50 Age: 36 Race: Human-Myrim
Status:
Unconscious
Poisoned – Apolis Spider Venom, Necrotic, Strong
Internal Bleeding -1 Heath Hour
Heavy Blood Loss
Although I wanted to know more about the word Myrim, I could see the name of the poison. Unfortunately, Eira’s health had dropped by one point as the necrotic nature of the venom continued to damage her body further.
“Apolis Spider Venom,” I murmured.
“Goddess of the Waters, grant mercy,” the green-robed woman whispered, looking toward Njal and his uncle with sadness; she then asked, “Is there not anything you can do?”
Me? Sure, somehow, I could see that the poor woman was dying. But really, what do they expect me to do? I’m not a doctor. I made games for a living.
Then something clicked and a voice sounding like my own proclaimed, “O Powerful and Magnificent Goddess of the Moon, please hear my voice and lend me your strength so I may heal this woman who has been so grievously hurt. O Supreme Goddess of the Waters, please hear my voice and lend me your strength so I may purge this woman’s body of the poison running through her veins.”
Cast Cure Wounds +55 Health (+16)
Cast Purify Poison (Greater)
So, the rest of the day went pear-shaped, although not in a bad way. I ended up healing all the wounded, although they tried to insist it wasn’t necessary—stupid men. Much to the surprise of everyone, even managed to repair Uncle Gomes's broken arm. It seems my healing spells pack quite a punch, although I have nothing to compare it to.
Eira had not woken up by the time we put her to bed, but overall, she looked much better. Using my new fangle Healing Arts, I told her husband that she would probably sleep through the night and afterward be hungry. For the next few days, she would need to drink plenty of nonalcoholic liquids and increase her meals with iron-rich foods. Yea, mom, would be proud.
After promising to return tomorrow, the women hustled me to the inn, although in a quite respectful manner. One second, I was treated like a poor lost child, suddenly not—a bit of whiplash. I also walked away with a leather bag full of gold.
In this world, magical healing, potions or otherwise, came with a hefty price. Part of me wanted to refuse, but with no money to my name, I needed the coin. Plus, Mr. Gomes wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Soon, Frida and Revna went off to help their parents, leaving me on the porch snuggling under a nice warm blanket with plenty of time to inspect the pop-up that appeared after I healed Nijal’s Aunt.
Alex
Alexandria
Health: 160/160 Mana: 200/200 Level: 1 Experience: 44/50 Class: Healer Arch-class: Saint Race: Human+ Age: 16
Blessings:
Moon-kissed
Gift of Tongues
VIT: 5 (8)
STR: 4 (6)
AGL: 3 (5)
POW: 5 (10)
Titles:
Otherworlder
She who walks through the Void
The character screen bore no resemblance to any game I had seen before. The stats were straightforward enough, although not sure why there were two numbers. All I could guess was that it had something to do with the blessings or my class. Of course, the arch-class brought up some interesting questions.
Avalon Online, well, and from what I knew, most games tended to shy away from any real-world religious trappings. Although our new story mentioned the return of the old gods and magic, there were no plans to build temples, churches, or shrines. Nor was there one to develop a cleric or priest class.
In this world, I used prayer to heal after waking in a shrine to the goddess of the moon. Still, I recognized the Healer class, so I saw no need to bring up the arch-class if asked.
The Blessings, not totally sure what they mean. Although Gift of Tongues suggests, that’s the reason why I can understand the villagers, which was a blessing. I’ll have to see if I can speak other languages.
Heath and Mana were two stats that were familiar enough. Although, from my Healer Sense, I had a bit more health than most of those I could see which probably coincides with my stat increase. The few spells I cast didn’t seem to put much of a dent in my Mana at the time either.
What else? Let's see. Name, yea, annoying but something I could live with for now. Level, check, although not positive where I got experience points from but most likely from the healing spells I cast. Age, well, I now knew why they called me young lady. And race, the Human+, which I couldn’t explain, but I wonder if it had anything to do with Human-Myrim. And last but not least, Titles, which at least confirm I am not from around here.
So, a lot of information but not a lot of explanation. Unfortunately, I can’t see the girls handing me a Player’s Guide for this world. Not sure who I would ask or if it was wise to do so.
Opening and closing the menu took no effort, although I did freak out when it vanished for the first time. I could even leave it open to the side, although it got in the way.
And, as much as I tried, I couldn’t see my skills, which was disappointing.
Healing Sense, I think, was a passive skill, although I couldn’t say for sure. Nor do I know its range, as the wounded cured this afternoon were all close together—something I needed to play with later. Touching a person gave me a lot more information as I found out. At least, though, simply holding a person’s hand didn’t make it appear I had to put some intent behind it. So, maybe an active version of it?
Instinctively I knew my spells or prayers were tied with Healing Sense. Like my skills, I couldn’t see them yet, but there was no chance I would say try to raise a person from the dead over a paper cut. And that little thought just terrified me. Was that even possible? I wasn’t sure I even wanted to know.
I don’t imagine there was a need to know how to rig an avatar or drive a car around here. Still, I wondered what skills it would show or confirm what I lack, but I do have some. Perhaps a nice list of computer languages and programs I am familiar with.
Besides burning water, I didn’t know how to cook, much less ride a horse. I also didn’t have proficiency with a sword, sewing needle, or the many other skills required to live comfortably in this world.
Yea, somehow, I knew this would become troublesome for me in the future.